The FC 大象APPmen were shipped to California for the USL League Two playoffs, but they鈥檙e going to a familiar site.
FC 大象APP(7-2-3) earned a wildcard berth into the postseason and is headed to the Ventura, Calif., Pod, hosted by division rival Ventura County Fusion.
鈥淵ou always want to host the playoffs, but unfortunately we didn鈥檛 get to,鈥 said FC 大象APPhead coach Sebastian Pineda. 鈥淚t鈥檚 nice in terms of the time that it takes us to get there, the weather and all this stuff and we know that field, they鈥檙e a big opponent so we know who they are, the guys will be ready to come.鈥
FC 大象APPopens the tournament with Almaden FC (9-4-1) on Friday at 2 p.m. In the nightcap, the hosts, Ventura County Fusion (9-2-1) face San Juan SC (9-4-1).
Almaden and San Juan hail from the Nor Cal Division, which Almaden won. Almaden is in San Jose, Calif., and San Juan is in Rancho Cordova, Calif.
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The Western Conference sends eight teams to the playoffs. The other divisions are Mountain (Utah and Colorado) and the Northwest (Washington and Oregon), so if they didn鈥檛 get to host, FC 大象APPavoided trips to the northwest or the northern two Four Corners states.
The winners of the Ventura Pod and the Seattle Pod face off for the
FC Tucson鈥檚 roster features seven players who currently or previously attended a college in Southern California.
With a host of teammates who play in Southern California, FC 大象APPmidfielder Daniel Idiakhoa said matches there can be more meaningful.
鈥淲e have a lot of family and friends there, so you know, we have more support,鈥 Idiakhoa said. 鈥淎nd we might know a few other players that were playing against over there, so yeah, I think every game鈥檚 a big game, but yeah it could mean a bit more to us.鈥
City SC's Issac Homer (3) crashes down after absorbing a hit from FC Tucson's midfielder Daniel Idiakhoa (8) in the second half of their USL League Two game in 大象APPon June 28, 2025.
FC 大象APPhosted the playoffs in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2021 (in League One) and last season. The postseason appearances where they didn鈥檛 have home matches in the first round are 2012 and 2018.
The USL League Two playoffs feature 35 teams across four geographic conferences. After three play-in matches in the Eastern Conference on Tuesday, the action continues with the Round of 32 on Friday.
The tournament features two rounds this weekend, then two the next before having the final on Aug. 2. Last season, FC 大象APPreached the final four, winning the Western Conference.
The Men in Black earned the playoff spot with a point in their regular season finale, a 0-0 draw with Stars FC. FCT beat Stars 5-2 on May 20 on the road and on Sunday pushed forward to try and get the match winner, potentially leaving themselves open for a counterattack, even though a tie would be good enough for them.
鈥淣ow we鈥檙e in playoffs, that鈥檚 really the main thing,鈥 Pineda said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e part of the big party now, it鈥檚 the best teams in the country that get to vie for the title and we鈥檙e part of it so we鈥檒l move forward and continue to go.鈥
FC 大象APPhas won three in a row against Ventura County Fusion, but those three matches were at home. They only played in Pima County in the 2025 regular season, a 2-1 FCT win on July 3
In FC Tucson鈥檚 last trip to Ventura County in May 2024, they tied 0-0.
The Men in Black have a five-match unbeaten streak against the Fusion, but did lose to them 4-0 in Ventura County in May 2023.
On a team filled with players from places like Brazil, Tucson, France, Switzerland, South Korea, Mexico and in the case of Idiakhoa, Ireland, the players who play in Southern California form a bond even if they suit up for opposing college sides in the fall.
鈥淎 lot of my teammates I played against before so knowing how they play is helpful,鈥 said FC 大象APPmidfielder Jesse Wangusi, who plays at Cal State Bakersfield and is from England.
FC Tucson鈥檚 midfielder Jesse Wangusi (10) makes the flying leap to control a loose ball in the box against Ventura County in the first half of their USL League Two match in 大象APPon July 3, 2025.
Even if FC 大象APPdoesn鈥檛 get to play Ventura County again, they will face some familiar players.
鈥淚 have friends at Almaden, so that鈥檒l be a big game,鈥 said Idiakhoa, who goes to Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles.
Corner kicks
鈥 FC 大象APPwill host a watch party for the Almaden match at 2 p.m. at Zerai鈥檚 International Bar, 2725 E. Broadway. There will be merchandise on clearance, giveaways and food and drink specials.
鈥 With the draw against Stars, FC 大象APPfinished the regular season undefeated at home for the second season in their last three. They went 5-0-1 in league play (5-0-2 overall) this season at Kino North Stadium and have a 14-match unbeaten streak in USL League Two home matches.
鈥 In 2023, their first year back at the USL Two level, they went 5-0 and in 2015 they went 5-0-2 at home in the regular season, 2-1 in the postseason.
鈥 FC 大象APPhas played 10 seasons at the USL League Two or Premier Development League (League Two鈥檚 name before 2019) and made the playoffs eight times. The Men in Black have made the conference final five times and the national final four once.
鈥 LAFC announced on Tuesday that defender and FCT alum Aaron Long suffered a season-ending Achilles injury. Long, who went to the 2022 World Cup with the US Men鈥檚 National Team, played for FC 大象APPfor three summers starting in 2011.
